Othello+Act+5

Act 5 Othello:

 * Plot Outline**

__Scene One__: The act opens with Iago and Roderigo hiding in wait for Cassio, so that they may kill him. Iago doesn't particularly care if Roderigo dies instead of Cassio, but is concerned about Roderigo's questions and worries that he may be suspicious of Iago's scheming. Cassio duly arrives, and ends up wounding Roderigo, while Iago stabs Cassio from behind, so that Cassio is unaware who inflicted his injuries. Hearing Cassio's cries, Othello believes that Cassio has been fatally wounded, and continues on his way to kill Desdemona. Lodovico and Gratiano arrive, and Iago claims innocence for Cassio's injuries: going so far as to stab Roderigo as revenge for his wounding Cassio. Bianca arrives, and Iago accuses her of injuring Cassio.

__Scene Two__: Othello enter Desdemona's bedroom, and sees her sleeping. He nearly talks himself out of killing her, but convinces himself that he must and that it is for her own good. He kisses her and she wakes up, and he tells her to say her prayers because she is about to die. Protesting, Desdemona claims her innocence, but Othello cites the evidence against her and smothers her with a pillow. Emilia is knocking on the door to the bedroom, and Othello lets her in. She reveals that Cassio has killed Roderigo, and while she is speaking she hears Desdemona, whom Othello thought dead, cry out. Pulling back the curtain to reveal Desdemona, Emilia hears her say that she killed herself. Othello confesses that he killed his wife, but that he did it because she was unfaithful. Emilia questions how Othello knew his wife was unfaithful, and he points to the evidence that Iago provided. Montano, Gratiano and Iago enter, and Emilia accuses Iago of lying. Othello runs to attack Iago when he draws his sword against Emilia, but Othello is disarmed and Iago stabs Emilia. While she lays down beside Desdemona and dies, singing the Willow song; Iago runs away and Gratiano and Montano chase after him. Othello reveals he has another weapon, and when Lodovico, Gratiano, Cassio and Iago (in custody) return, he stabs Iago, but does not kill him. Documents from the dead Roderigo reveal the extent of Iago's duplicity, and Cassio reveals how he came to have Desdemona's handkerchief; Othello's primary piece of evidence against his wife. Recognising that he was deceived, Othello asks that he be remembered as one who acted out of love and who was played by Iago. He then lays down next to his dead wife and kills himself, leaving Cassio to rule Cyprus and Lodovico and Gratiano to tell the story of Othello and of Iago's duplicity and malice to Venice.


 * Journal prompts, focus questions - during reading**

__Act V Scene I__

- Why is Roderigo unsure about killing Cassio? - What does Iago stand to gain if Roderigo lives? - What does Iago stand to gain if Cassio lives? - Why is Othello pleased to hear Cassio’s cries? - What does Iago accuse Bianca of? - Why does Emilia abuse Bianca? - How do you think the opening lines of this scene parallel the opening of Act one scene one? - How many lies does Iago utter in this act? - What do you think Iago means by the last lines in this act: “This is the night that either makes me, or fordoes me quite”.

__Act V Scene II__

- Translate lines 1-22 into modern English - Look at the word “Promethean”. What does this word mean? Where does it come from? - What does Othello believe he must kill Desdemona? - Why does Othello tell Desdemona to confess her sins? What does this tell you about his religious beliefs? - What evidence does Othello have that his wife was cheating? How convincing is the evidence? - Why does Othello believe himself to be “cruel yet merciful”? - Why do you think Desdemona tells Emilia that she has killed herself? What does this tell you about her character? - How does Emilia convince Othello of Desdemona’s fidelity? - What are Emilia's thoughts about her husband up to line 154? From line 155-196? - Look at lines 270-279. What does Othello mean? Can you translate this section into modern English? - In line 281, why does Othello refer to himself in the third person? - Why does Othello believe that Iago cannot be killed? - Othello says “for naught did I on hate, but all in honour”. Do you agree with his assessment of himself? - Read Othello’s monologue: lines 334 – 352. What do you think Iago would say about this? What points would he disagree with Othello on? - In the final speech, Lodovico says to Iago “Look on the tragic loading of this bed: this is thy work”. What is he showing Iago? What role has Iago played in the demise of each of the characters on the bed? Who else has played a role in the character’s downfalls?


 * Lesson Outline: Act V, Scene II, lines 1-85**

Class begins by viewing this scene from the 1995 Oliver Parker film. In pairs, the class reads the dialogue, one as Othello and one as Desdemona. Once the dialogue has been read through a couple of times, the class gets into groups of four and translates the dialogue into their own vernacular. Now that they are equipped with a modern version of the language, each group is given a type of language to translate it into. Types will be selected by the teacher: such as Othello and Desdemona are sending text messages to each other; are commentating a rugby match; are robots; are wannabe rappers; are emo kids; are mute and must use act out the dialogue; are characters in a day-time soap opera etc. This ensures that each student fully understands the dialogue, forces them to interact with the text, and enables them to think about both what is actually being said and why it is being said. Once the second translations are complete, each group presents their new dialogue to the class. Class then addresses Othello: he believes that he is bound by honour to kill Desdemona. Do you believe him? Groups come up with evidence from the scene that he believes he is doing the right thing.